Scientific Reports (Dec 2020)

Minimal system for assembly of SARS-CoV-2 virus like particles

  • Heather Swann,
  • Abhimanyu Sharma,
  • Benjamin Preece,
  • Abby Peterson,
  • Crystal Eldridge,
  • David M. Belnap,
  • Michael Vershinin,
  • Saveez Saffarian

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-78656-w
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 10, no. 1
pp. 1 – 5

Abstract

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Abstract SARS-CoV-2 virus is the causative agent of COVID-19. Here we demonstrate that non-infectious SARS-CoV-2 virus like particles (VLPs) can be assembled by co-expressing the viral proteins S, M and E in mammalian cells. The assembled SARS-CoV-2 VLPs possess S protein spikes on particle exterior, making them ideal for vaccine development. The particles range in shape from spherical to elongated with a characteristic size of 129 ± 32 nm. We further show that SARS-CoV-2 VLPs dried in ambient conditions can retain their structural integrity upon repeated scans with Atomic Force Microscopy up to a peak force of 1 nN.